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SURVIVAL

by: Skye

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Part 3

Qui-Gon had been tended by the healers for several hours. Obi-Wan and Windu waited in a nearby chamber, having been banished as the medical staff worked their desperate magic. Windu was eventually summoned to join them at Qui-Gon's bedside, after they approached to discuss Qui-Gon's failing energy reserves. Mace Windu nodded, then joined in their efforts, supporting by channeling energy from the Force through Qui-Gon, so that limited reserves were not tapped to extinction. It was a skill unique to Jedi, presenting a rare opportunity to snatch one of their fellows back from beyond the border that claimed most unfortunate victims hovering between life and death. The dedication of the Jedi was equaled only by their reach into other realms.

Eventually, Obi-Wan was reunited with his master who lay still and pale as before, but now was cleaned and bandaged and supported by the medical skills of their healers. The healers retired for a bit, warning that they would return on a regular basis to check on their patient.

Obi-Wan was finally left alone with his master. He looked less traumatic, with the damage out of sight and burned clothing removed, having been tucked into white sheets with care evident. It did not, however, make him look any less lifeless. The whiteness of the sheets only made him look more vulnerable and colorless. To see his master so still was frightening all by itself, for even at rest Mast Qui-Gon had always felt vitally, vibrantly alive with the energy of the Force surrounding him. Now, there was nothing. Obi-Wan found this to be very frightening indeed.

After whispering a greeting to his master, the apprentice curled up in a chair, determined to remain with him for as long as they would allow it, concentrating on sending love and support to this man, focusing on nothing more than the faint rise and fall of the bandaged chest.

Time blurred as Obi-Wan sat in the medical unit, marked only by the appearances of the healers as they came and went. He had no idea how long he sat there, and no interest in knowing. As long as his master continued to breathe, he was satisfied to let time march past undocumented.

The catch in the rhythm of his breathing alerted Obi-Wan, causing him to sit up abruptly, attention totally focused on whatever shift was occurring in Qui-Gon's condition. The catch occurred again, almost a whimper this time.

Pain.

Qui-Gon was regaining consciousness.

"Shh, Qui-Gon. Don't fight the darkness now. Rest." He gently rubbed the broad shoulder, trying not to touch the bandages that hid the damaged chest beneath them. "Don't wake now. Rest."

The shoulder shivered under his hand. The arm moved, then the eyelids fluttered. Blue eyes opened, staring vacantly into the dimly lit room. The gaze was unfocused and filled with pain. "Master," Obi-wan coaxed. "Not now. Sleep."

"Obi...wan?" The voice was scarcely more than a whisper, but it was enough. Obi-wan felt a smile growing in answer to the surge of happiness.

"Everything is well, Master. Don't talk, just rest."

"R..you.well?" he managed to force out. Sweat was beginning to appear on his pale forehead.

"I'm fine," Obi-Wan assured him hastily. "Anakin is fine. Queen Amidala is fine. The Naboo are fine. They are free of the Neimoidians and a new treaty was signed in the Naboo's favor. Even the Gungans are fine. The only one not fine is you."

Qui-Gon's gaze lingered on his apprentice's face for a moment longer before the eyes sagged shut in weariness. ".sith?." he whispered.

"Dead,' replied Obi-Wan with equal sparity of words. "You wounded him, Master. I merely completed the task."

".great Jedi..proud.ofyu.."

The words sounded like a benediction, like a farewell. It frightened Obi-Wan, sending a chill tiptoeing up his spine.

"Rest now, Master. Heal. Grow stronger. I'll be here beside you."

There was no response, but the shoulder under his hands trembled. "You're in pain."

The muscles on either side of the jaw bunched as Qui-Gon clenched his teeth against the building pain. Obi-Wan moved a step to thumb a button, alerting the medical personnel that the Master needed their assistance.

Returning to his master, Obi-wan settled beside him, one hand resting lightly at the curve of his shoulder where it joined his neck, the other closed around limp fingers, feeding energy into him as the force would allow, as he had been doing all night. He gently rubbed the shoulder in rhythm with his breathing, hoping to slow the shallow pant with encouragement, sending love and strength and support to his Master.

The panting was increasing.

"Sleep, Master," Obi-Wan intoned softly, bringing all his Jedi skills to bear to influence the mind of his master. The result was not what he'd hoped for. His suggestion bounced off the shielding of a mind trained for half a century in the mastery of the Jedi arts. The blue eyes opened, and to Obi-Wan's startlement, there was amusement alongside the pain in that gaze.

"Obi-wan?" It was only his name, and faint at that, but it carried so many comments with it. The tendril-touch of the Force carried laughter along with incredulity and a definite question.

What do you think you're doing, Obi-wan? You know that won't work, the voice in his head informed him, light bubbles of amusement bursting amid the angry sparks of pain.

"I had to try," the apprentice replied sheepishly, embarrassed at being so easily caught out. "It's a good idea, Master. Leave the pain and rest for a bit. I will be here when you wake." He let his love and support flow through the Force, offering the comfort he knew Qui-Gon would refuse were it offered any other way.

Maybe it was the sincerity in Obi-Wan's eyes. Maybe the Master was so weary he had no choice. But for whatever reason, Qui-Gon's eyes closed and he nodded his acquiescence.

"Sleep, Master," Obi-Wan urged once more, and watched as his master sighed and surrendered to the mental command, sliding into sleep and away from the pain. "Sleep," he repeated, though it was unnecessary, then settled back into his chair with a smile.

His master had awakened. His master had smiled at him. His master had accepted his help. He'd done something right, something to ease the pain. His master was getting stronger. It might be in tiny, infinitesimally frustrating increments, but he was stronger.

Obi-Wan dropped his head back against the chair and closed his own weary eyes.

* * * *

Obi-Wan awoke, stiff, sore and heartsick. It took a moment for memory to catch up, to replace bewilderment as he realized that he slept in a chair, in a place unfamiliar to him and what in his life was so very wrong.

The memories returned, causing his heart to contract painfully. Qui-Gon - hurt, sick, in pain, dying -- and he'd fallen asleep in a chair. Qui-Gon needed support through the Force, needed energy, needed comfort and his faithful apprentice had fallen asleep. Guilt and panic warring within him, Obi-Wan lunged to his feet, seeking his maser.

Qui-Gon lay on the bed just as he'd left him, but now a slender woman sat beside him, her long and elegant fingers resting against his cheek while the other hand rested below the wound on his stomach. She turned at his abrupt movement, and offered a small smile.

"He lives," she assured him quietly. Obi-Wan stared at her blankly, heart pounding as he struggled through the adrenaline surge. Finally he managed enough composure to nod to her and step forward toward his Master.

Qui-Gon looked just as he had a few hours earlier; pale, waxen, lifeless, but the chest rose and fell with regularity.

"You look better," she offered. "You needed rest very badly. I'm glad you slept a bit."

"I shouldn't have," he muttered irritably.

"Oh, yes, you should. And you should sleep still more. I can feel your weariness from here." Startled, he looked up to meet her gaze. "He is your Master, yes?" Obi-Wan nodded mutely. "And you care for him." Again he nodded. "I know that he cares for you. Therefore, I should think that as his apprentice, you would wish to be available to assist your Master when he needs you. For that you need to be strong. And the path to that is rest when you need it." She smiled kindly, then turned her attention back to Qui-Gon.

He stood silently for a moment, absorbing both the comfort and the sting of her words. Finally he tucked the information away as truth to be considered later, and stepped forward to the side of the bed. Reaching out, he rested questing fingertips against Qui-Gon's shoulder, against the base of his neck where the skin was bare and the touch most informative - and most clearly felt by Qui-Gon. The tiny spark was still there, still glowing bravely in the darkness that threatened to overwhelm and swallow it, extinguishing it completely. Another presence was linked to it now, something strange and feminine. The feminine presence was strong, and vibrated with the Force energy she so carefully controlled and trickled into the weary essence of Qui-Gon.

Obi-Wan sent a tendril of thought through the Force as well, sending love and encouragement to that tiny spark. He thought he felt a small quiver of response, but the energy even of last night was dimmed.

"He is weaker, yes," She replied quietly. "We must stay with him constantly now."

The alarm must have showed in his eyes. "Someone will be with him every moment," she assured him. "We will share with him all the energy he needs."

"And if we don't? What then?" He had to know. Had to define the fears, give them borders, even if he didn't want to hear the words."

The words were painfully simple and stark in their coldness. "If I withdraw, his heart will cease beating and he will die." As she spoke, another figure slipped into the room and took his place beside her. They both closed their eyes for a moment, then he placed his hands beside hers, and she withdrew.

"See? It's very simple. We will not stay for more than an hour at a time, but someone will be here always."

"No one wishes to lose Master Qui-Gon," the newcomer added, bending to study the pale face of the master. Closing his eyes, the man turned inward, aligning himself with the Force to allow it to flow through him and into Qui-Gon.

They're keeping his heart beating through the Force. They are literally pouring energy into him to make this battered body work. Anybody else would have been dead in Theebs. Anybody else wouldn't have friends to do this, let alone the ability. I wonder if he knew he had such friends. I don't think he knows how much the others really care about him. I didn't know. Still, friends or not, I don't care what it takes, so long as it works. We needed a miracle, Qui-Gon. It looks like sometimes Jedi make their own miracles.

Since the energy needs were met by this latest arrival, Obi-Wan concentrated on sending encouragement, and love.

~TBC~